The third in the Lenten Midweek series:  Coming Home From Exile:   the Exoduses of the Scriptures.  (Theme and theme text by Rev. Carl C. Fickenscher II, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN).

 

Today’s Scripture

Our Lord’s Passion – John 17:1 – 18:11 Gethsemane:  Jesus Prays and is Arrested

Psalm 138       Genesis 28:10-17        Luke 15:1-7

 

            As we study the exoduses of Scripture there is Jacob quickly leaving his home with his life threatened by Esau, his twin brother.  From the start of his life, Jacob does not look at first that important.  He is born the second of twins.  As he and Esau are born, he is grasping his brother’s heel.  The name Jacob means “heel holder.”  Calling someone a “heel” is an insult, indicating a lowly part of the body.  Grasping at one’s heel indicates trying to get the least of what is available.  The “heel” of a loaf of bread is usually the part most people do not like as it is all crust.  Jacob, (a heel) is not the most inspiring of names, is it?

 

            As we read through the Biblical account of Jacob’s life, he is not the most admirable in some of his doings.  He cons his brother (in a moment of weakness) out of his birthright.  He conspires with his mother to deceive his father to steal his brother’s blessing.  When his brother is out to avenge him, he again deceives his father about the reason for his leaving and receives another blessing from Isaac.  This blessing is that Jacob’s descendants would receive the blessing given to Abraham, for Jacob to take possession of this land that God had given to Abraham.  Sly, sneaky, Jacob had just been given everything one could imagine.

 

            But Jacob is not alone.  His mother is with him in his deceit.  He brother caves in to him.  His father is blind not only physically but quite possibly to a lot of all that is going on.  Jacob’s father-in-law deceives him.  His two wives conspire to win his favor time and again.  Later in life his own sons deceive him in regards to Joseph’s disappearance.  How can God begin to work with and through these people?  They are such a bunch of sinners!

 

            But God does have a plan in all of this.  Jesus brings it to life in the parable of the lost sheep.  God goes out of his way to reclaim even one lost sheep.  And when he reclaims each one, he rejoices and there is celebration even in heaven for each lost sheep who returns.  God never left Jacob promised to always be faithful to him, even at the height of his despair and following his sins against his family and against God. 

 

            Jacob is fleeing for his life and to find a new start in life.  As he sleeps, God gives him a vision and a message.  God promises, “All peoples will be blessed through you.”  Through all of the things that have happened to, around, and by Jacob, God is in charge.  God makes and keeps his promises to his people.  From the beginning it is God’s plan that Jacob’s name will eventually be “Israel,” meaning one who wrestles with men and with God.  Israel will be the name of God’s people.  All believers in Jesus are the Israel of today.  It is not a geographic or political entity.  Israel is the flock of lost sheep who have been saved by our one and only shepherd, Jesus. 

 

            Today, in Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for himself that all he is sent to complete is to God’s glory and to save the lost sheep.  Jesus prayed for the disciples that they not be lost.  Jesus prayed for all who would believe in him, that many would come to God’s saving grace.  You receive that saving grace in faith in Jesus, in the waters of baptism, all that result in an eternity with him in heaven.

 

            Don’t you and I wrestle with men?  And don’t we wrestle with God?  And doesn’t God remain faithful, continually giving you his blessings both of this earth and the promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus?  No matter what kind of heels we are in God’s sight, he still loves, he still seeks out his lost sheep, and he still brings each one back home as he did Jacob.

 

            Bringing one back home is demonstrated even at the end of Jacob’s life.  Jacob and all of his family were residing in Egypt at the time of his death.  All of his sons accompanied by an entourage from Pharaoh’s court took Jacob’s remains back to this land that God promised to his descendants.  Centuries later, Joseph’s bones would be carried by the Israelites during their campaign in the wilderness back to this promised land.  All of this is a sign from God telling each one faithful to him that, at the end of earthly life, our last exodus is not to the ground, but to the land that God has promised each one who remains faithful to him.  “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life,” [Rev. 2:10b].  Our exodus will be that eternal life in heaven.

 

            In Jesus’ undying love.  Amen.